Philosophy · Social & Political Philosophy
A topic within Social & Political Philosophy, itself one of 11 topics in that field and part of Philosophy.
No prior grounding assumed.
Introduction to Political Philosophy with Steven B. Smith
Steven B. Smith (YaleCourses) · 2008
Reads Socrates through Tocqueville as a continuing argument about what authority can legitimately demand, and insists the question is prior to any…
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Primary sources and full treatments.
Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes · 1651
Without a common power life is a war of all against all, so subjects rationally trade liberty for security — the founding social contract argument.
3 works
Steven B. Smith (YaleCourses)
Reads Socrates through Tocqueville as a continuing argument about what authority can legitimately demand, and insists the question is prior to any modern policy dispute.
link checked 17 Sept 2026Michael Sandel (TED)
Argues that trying to settle public questions while staying neutral about the good life fails, because disputes over justice already turn on what a practice is for.
link checked 17 Sept 2026Thomas Hobbes
Without a common power life is a war of all against all, so subjects rationally trade liberty for security — the founding social contract argument.
about 14 hours to readlink checked 17 Sept 2026